This was a very dishy, interesting, if uneven, book about a very unique and enterprising breed of women: fortune hunters. Those who make a career and a financial empire by marrying very wealthy men. Some of these women were revelations for me (Carol McDonald Portago Carey-Hughes Pistell Petrie). Some of them were reminders (Pamela Churchill Haywood Harriman). Some of them I would disagree should be categorized as Fortune Hunters (Princess Diana, Duchess of Windsor, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy...they may have married wealthy men, but they were not as calculated, almost militaristic as some of others like Petrie and Harriman. I would merely classify these three women who married the most eligible Princes in the world: the last two Prince of Wales and the Prince of America himself: JFK as "women who married well." None of these ladies had more than one husband, a distinct difference from the formidable ladies in this book.) This book is a very fun read. I love women who demonstrate strength, in whatever fashion. After all men have been doing that nobly for since the fall of the Goddess and this book certainly is a revelation. ( )

Wikipedia in English

From Madame de Pompadour, the famed mistress of Louis XV, to Pamela Harriman, who married into the English aristocracy and the American plutocracy, there is a rich history of women who have found glamour and wealth in the arms of a billionaire. But contrary to what you may think, fortune hunting is no idle pursuit. Like diving for treasure, it’s a real job. Some women strive to be CEOs; others prefer to wed them. You'll meet today's dazzling successes in this book.

What kind of woman does it take to make the Midas marriage? Exploring the lives of the great fortune hunters of our day, reporter and former gossip columnist Charlotte Hays answers this tantalizing question. You’ll learn about the South Carolina woman who took a trip around the world with a shadowy shipping magnate, only to meet and marry a philandering marquis. You’ll see what methods these women use to lure their powerful men, including one playful fortune seeker who, at a very high-society soirée, hurled a piece of bread at her intended beau, starting a food fight. You’ll meet the New York socialite who remarried so quickly after a divorce, her ex claimed she was a bigamist.

Whatare their recipes for riches? Can a genuinely nice woman pursue this career? What does love have to do with it? With original interviews and photos, Hays casts a light on the determination, skill, and---yes, sometimes---ruthlessness that have shaped some of the most successful---and lucrative---unions of our time.

A look at glamorous celebrity marriages shares the stories of fortune seekers and how they managed to snare millionaire spouses, discussing the ruthless and creative methods that have been employed in the establishment of famous pairings.